8.34 Maidenhead to Paddington

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) live updates at the time were reporting 'signalling problems' between Didcot Parkway and Reading - but I couldn't see anything that should have affected your journey from Maidenhead to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), Jo. 

[johoare]

Thanks Chris.. That is why I asked on here.. We left Maidenhead on time..and the crawled... on the fast line... most of the way.. The driver didn't know anything (he told us).. I got to work 20 minutes late.. I just wondered if anyone knew why so many trains into Paddington were late.. I guess no one knows..So my boss won't ever know why I was late either  and other people must have had the same trouble..

[johoare]

I am very cross today 
The 8.34 was extremely hot and crawled ALL the way in again today..arriving 20 minutes late. I felt very ill by the time we got to Paddington and don't really feel totally right now.
Yet again.. not a single announcement to the passengers..
I have complained.. Just trying to guess what standard reply I'll get..

[devon_metro]

I am very cross today 
The 8.34 was extremely hot and crawled ALL the way in again today..arriving 20 minutes late. I felt very ill by the time we got to Paddington and don't really feel totally right now.
Yet again.. not a single announcement to the passengers..
I have complained.. Just trying to guess what standard reply I'll get..

The 0800 arrived 1 minute late, however i'm sure that isn't any compensation!!

[coachflyer]

Yet again.. not a single announcement to the passengers..

This is the problem with DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) trains. As Drivers we are instructed that when driving under restrictive signals ie any thing other than green, we are not to use the PA^▸ (Public Address) system because it could distract you from keeping a lookout for the next signal.

Also it is rare that we get told what is happening. When we stop at a red signal it is normal for the signaller just to send a 'wait' message and the signal to clear without being told anything.

Noticed on the way out of Paddington this morning at 0900 that there were a number of HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s heading to Old Oak so causing inbound trains to queue back to Acton.

[johoare]

Does anyone know why the queue was back to Maidenhead at 8.34 then?

[eightf48544]

it's probably Heathrow junction.

Any train on the UP main which is slowed or stopped by a Heathrow express causes the following train to be on double yellows from Iver, the next from around Dolphin the next between Burnham and Slough and the next coming up to Taplow. Thus four trains in front of you on yellows and you crawl form Maidenhead. Particulary as the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) are locked down to certain speeds and until the ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) is released by a green can't exceed that speed.

It's a bit like the motorway waves somebody slows 2 mph in the fast lane and 2 miles back the traffic comes to a halt.

You can model it mathmatically.

[BBM]

it's probably Heathrow junction.

Any train on the UP main which is slowed or stopped by a Heathrow express causes the following train to be on double yellows from Iver, the next from around Dolphin the next between Burnham and Slough and the next coming up to Taplow. Thus four trains in front of you on yellows and you crawl form Maidenhead. Particulary as the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) are locked down to certain speeds and until the ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) is released by a green can't exceed that speed.

It's a bit like the motorway waves somebody slows 2 mph in the fast lane and 2 miles back the traffic comes to a halt.

You can model it mathmatically.

Has anyone made any sort of estimate of how much diesel fuel is wasted by all of this? 

[johoare]

Has anyone made any sort of estimate of how much diesel fuel is wasted by all of this? 

Or how much of peoples lives are wasted? I'd hate to think.. 

[johoare]

And here (below) is First Great Western's (pretty standard) response..
Does any one know if this is true or not...the bit about the train ahead experiencing problems that is?  - or is this just a standard paragraph I've not seen before now?

I've pretty much seen the rest of the e-mail before tho.. I've still not found the train manager on a turbo (which is DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard))).. I would love to see the "train manage/aka driver" walking down the train to give the personal touch to his information    .. whilst also driving the train...I'm thinking maybe I should ask about this?

I also like the fact they're still talking about air con even tho it's not needed in November.. They need to update their "what we can cut and paste" directives I think..

Big big sigh from me to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)...

"Thank you for your email of 11 November 2010. I was sorry to hear about the disruption to your journey from Maidenhead to London Paddington on 11 November. We do our best to make sure our customers travel safely and arrive on time so I am very sorry you had a problem. The delay was caused as the train ahead experienced problems, causing the slow running of the service.

I was sorry to learn you were unhappy with the information on this service. Our Train Managers should always give out accurate information, especially when there is any disruption, through a mixture of personal contact and the train's public address system and I am sorry that this didn't happen on your journey.

We should always keep you up-to-date, even if it's to let you know we're waiting for more information ourselves. So I have passed your complaint on to the relevant Train Crew Manager, who I know will investigate what went wrong this time.

I am sorry you felt that the service was uncomfortably hot, we do thoroughly check each train overnight, and put right any problems before the train goes out again. There are times though when faults develop once the train has left the depot, and we do realise how uncomfortable this can be. On the rare occasions it does happen we believe that passengers would rather we kept the train running, than delay or cancel it, or have to send a replacement. So I do apologise that we had the fault, but hope you agree that keeping the train in service was the best course of action in the circumstances.

As a rule, if the air conditioning fails in one carriage we try and move passengers into others wherever possible. Even if the train's whole air conditioning system were to fail, we would normally keep the train running until we could repair the fault. Naturally we'd do that at the earliest opportunity, which may not be until the train returns to the depot that evening.

Some positive news is that we have now modified the air conditioning on our High Speed Trains, and we are also upgrading the system across our Turbo fleet as part of a major refreshment programme. This will mean fewer failures and more comfortable journeys for our customers.

I am sorry you were disappointed with the service you received. Your feedback is very important to us and I have recorded your comments for the attention of our Senior Managers.

Thank you once again for your email.

"

[Chris from Nailsea]

They need to update their "what we can cut and paste" directives I think..

Exactly, Jo. 

Having received FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s 'first line of defence' (some fairly random standard paragraphs), I think you should now challenge them to reply to your specific points (which will need some more concentrated effort on their part, producing some rather more detailed tailor made paragraphs)!

Illegitimis nil carborundum (cough) 

Good luck!

Chris. 

[johoare]

Already done.. I await their reply with interest
 

[johoare]

I just googled this..  And I won't 
I'm on a course in deepest darkest berkshire for a couple of weeks currently.. Even though my journey into work was SO horrible thu of last week (as per my post).. driving home in fog where you can't actually see the road in front of you.. is much much worse. I did that two days in a row this week... Please please can I get a train again? Although one that ran on time occasionally would be preferable 

[adc82140]

Travelled on the 08:00 four times in the last week.

Tuesday 23rd- 12 minutes late Maidenhead, 10 mins late Pad. No reason/apology given
Wed 24th- 15 mins late Maidenhead, 12 mins late Pad- points problem at Oxford
Thurs 25th- didn't travel
Fri 26th- 10 mins late Maidenhead, 10 mins late Pad- "late start from Oxford"

Mon 29th- Cancelled!!! Due to many signal problems. Fortunately arrived early at Maidenhead and got the 07:41.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.....

[johoare]

Oh dear.. So the service hasn't got any better in my absence then.. I can hardly wait till next Monday when I'm back in London..